BERLIN, Conn — Both Eversource and UI have submitted their new electricity supply prices with Connecticut's Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA) for the first half of 2023.
If PURA approves the submission, residential Eversource customers would be charged 24.2 cents per kilowatt-hour. This is double the current rate, which is 12.1 cents per kWh.
Last winter, Eversource's kWh rate was 11.5 cents.
"On average, an Eversource residential electric customer who uses 700-kilowatt hours of power each month could see an increase of approximately 48% over their current monthly bill - approximately $85 per month – on the supply portion of the bill," Eversource explained.
Eversource said global demand has resulted in historically high energy supply prices.
UI submitted a rate of 22.5 cents per kWh to PURA; they currently charge 10.6 cents per kWh.
Energy supply prices change twice a year, and this rate hike would last at least from Jan. 1, 2023, through June 30, 2023.
“This is unwelcome news to close out a year that has been challenging for so many in our state," Gov. Ned Lamont said in a statement Thursday.
Lamont said that a special session will be called to propose financial relief for Connecticut residents and ensure funding for the state's energy assistance program."
"I am disappointed electric distribution utilities are enjoying historic profits at the same time electric generation rates are increasing and customers are experiencing economic hardships, and I call on UI and Eversource to come to the table with solutions that recognize their investors and executives can and should support customers while we work together towards long-term solutions that untether us from the volatility of global fossil fuel markets," Lamont added.
"This is a massive increase that will be unaffordable for many Connecticut families and businesses," Attorney General William Tong said in a statement Thursday. He cited both war in Ukraine and Russian manipulation as reasons for the spike in gas costs globally.
"Both as a country and a state, we need to take a hard look at our energy sources and reduce our reliance on sources like natural gas that produce these wild, unaffordable surges in rates,” Tong added.
Tong noted that while supply rates for energy in Connecticut do fluctuate between winter and summer, this hike is not normal.
House Republican Leader Vincent Candelora echoed Democrat leaders' concern for unaffordability, calling on Lamont's administration to take action.
"These rate hikes should cause the legislature as well as the Governor’s administration to conduct a comprehensive review of past policy decisions and forward-looking goals to determine whether state government is managing energy-related issues in a manner that balances concerns and concepts from environmentalists with the palpable stress of ratepayers who find themselves digging deeper and deeper to pay their bills,” Candelora said.
Eversource has payment plans and assistance customers can opt-in to. Click here to find out more.
UI is offering assistance programs to help customers manage rising costs. They encourage those who are affected to look through the company's website to set up payment plans, winter protection and bill forgiveness.
“We understand that the unprecedented state of the global energy market is having real, burdensome impacts on the everyday lives of families across Connecticut, so we are focused on making sure UI customers are aware of, and prepared for, these rising supply costs and understand the programs we have to help,” said Frank Reynolds, President & CEO of UI. “Any UI customer that is having trouble paying their electric bill, or is concerned about their ability to do so in the coming months, should not hesitate to call us. Above all, we are here to help our customers, and are committed to making sure everyone is aware of the tools available, including payment plans, arrearage management programs, and other resources that can help customers manage their energy use and reduce the impact to their bill.”
Effective July 1, 2021, the town of Wallingford, which has its own electric utilities, charges 12.3 cents per kWh.
As of Nov. 1, 2022, Norwich Public Utilities charges 14.7 cents per kWh to residential homes and 16.5 cents per kWh to multi-family homes.
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